Speer Ball'ets

[Rusty Spurless]

20 or so years ago I recall using ball/bullet put out by Speer. It was a swaged slug that had a concave base, a thin driving band around the ogive & round nose.
They performed beautifully in all my BP guns, C&B & frontstuffer alike.

I dont believe they are made any more. Anyone know of a source for similar or moulds to cast them? After reading the article on the Big Lube bullets I am considering giving casting another try.

In the alternative, any suggestions on a good conical for use in C&B handguns?

[Deadguy]

The Lee .45 caliber 200 grain REAL has worked great for me in my Dragoon and my Remington New Army.  They can be a little tricky to load in 1860's, but it can be done, and they work good in those too, but forget using them in .44 caliber 1851 Navy models, as the loading cutout in the frame isn't big enough for them to fit through.  Also, if your chambers are terribly undersized, loading them may be a little difficult as well, but that can be easily fixed by reaming the chamber out to proper size.

[Rusty Spurless]

That would probably work but I was mainly wanting one for 36 cal. I want a little extra umpf on steel.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Here is Dick Dastardly's proposal.  I'm not sure where its at now.  I do know that the 45 EPP-UG works great in 44 C&B revolvers.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21568.0.html

[hellgate]

I recommend getting the LEE 200gr conical in double cavity mold. It shoots fine in my remingtons and one of my 1860s (ASM) but won't quite fit into the Pietta 1860. The widest ring, I believe is .454. They drop into the chambers up to the second (middle) driving band. The 45 cal LEE conical is for the ruger Old Army that likes a .457 ball or driving band. I have also use a hard to find 44cal REAL and it works fine in the Remingtons too as it is smaller than the 45 REAL so it slides in to the second or 3rd band with good allignment. They are all easy tocast.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Hey, Rusty - Howdy!

Those Ball-ettes you're thinking of were (and still ARE) made and sold by Buffalo.  Cabella's (and other places have them.  It is a modern version of the old conical projectiles that were used a LOT during the (un)Civil War.  I just shot some a couple weeks ago that I've had since 1975 or so.

When loaded, they look like a roundball, but have cylindrical sides and a hollow base.  Mine are the 44 (.451) version and weigh in at about 160-180 grs.  (If I remember right: the box has been gone for years!)

[Rusty Spurless]

SH,

Thats pert near it. I found them on the Cabelas website after your post.

Only thing different on the Speer's was they had a diving band around the ogive.

They awful dear, I will pick up a box & see ifin they shoot straight though.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

SH,

Thats pert near it. I found them on the Cabelas website after your post.

Only thing different on the Speer's was they had a diving band around the ogive.

They awful dear, I will pick up a box & see ifin they shoot straight though.

Good on ya, Rusty!

I'd shoot 'em all the time if I could afford 'em.  But for our CAS shooting, the extra ooomph (scientific term  ) and knockdown mass simply isn't needed.  They'd do well for small game hunting ... and man-stopping. (Let's pray never needed, 'tho.)

The ones I shot a couple weeks ago are pretty accurate, but like most heavier-than-regular bullets, the extra weight allowed the recoil to send them higher than a roundball.  If you need some extra range, 'tho - they're just what ya need.

The old ones have a different lube than the new ones, but I don't know what it involves.

Keep Yer Powder Dry !